John Joseph fronting the mighty Cro-Mags at Irving Plaza in NYC, Summer 1985, Photo: Joseph Henderson
As usual my vote went with the underdog, the "Age Of Quarrel" demo, but with that being said, by no means am I implying that picking the "Age Of Quarrel" Rock Hotel recording was a wrong move. Both recordings are perfect in their own way.
Personally I sort of prefer the raw violent energy, intensity, and urgency of the demo. JJ's vocals on the demo version of "Malfunction" alone, seriously blow my mind and give me goose bumps every time I listen to it. Although for some reason or another I probably listen to the LP on a much more regular basis, the demo is unquestionably hardcore personified.
Where the Rock Hotel "Age Of Quarrel" LP version can easily win you over is with it's power. There's been many times that I've been pounding this record at full blast in my car and feeling like I could drive 100 mph into a brick wall and keep on moving as if I had merely hit a fly. This album is just heavy in so many ways.
JJ, Mackie and Harley with the Cro-Mags at Irving Plaza, NYC, Summer 1985, Photo: Joseph Henderson
As I wrap this up, I wanted to give everyone a heads up to expect some DCXX content from one of the original Cro-Magnon men, Mr. Harley Flanagan. Thanks to Todd Youth for turning Harley on to the site, Harley and I have been going back and forth for a couple of weeks now and the jaw dropping material has been flowing in like mad. So stay tuned, you won't be disappointed.
Also, big thanks to Joseph Henderson from Flipside and Ink Disease for hooking us up with the killer Cro-Mags Irving Plaza pics. There's more where these came from, so again, stay locked in. Living in an Age Of Quarrel... -Tim DCXX
Cro-Mags - "Age Of Quarrel" - 224
Cro-Mags - "Age Of Quarrel" Demo / "Before The Quarrel" - 97
Kevin "Parris" Mayhew supplying that patented Cro-Mags power at Irving Plaza, NYC, Summer 1985, Photo: Joseph Henderson
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Poll results for favorite Cro-Mags "Age Of Quarrel" recording
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10 comments:
everytime I see a picture of Parris playing guitar I still think "WTF?!? is with that guitar??"
the demo, imo, has way more intensity and rawness compared to the LP and is also my favorite version as well.
I couldn't make up my mind, so I didn't vote. That's how close it is for me.
That 1984 3 song demo at the end of the remastered Age of Quarrel - wow.
Totally voted for "Before The Quarrel" also. Such a raw sounding record, it's just perfect....
The 1984 three songer is the greatest thing they did, and includes their best song, "You'd be the death of me."
Also, god fucking damn John Joseph was a buff motherfucker.
I'd rather hear from Mackie. Harley is such a pile
That's a BC Rich "Bich" model with neck-through-body construction and the original headstock. Can't be certain from that picture, but if it is anything like my BC Rich Mockingbird, which I played through a Carvin carpet halfstack wired in stereo through a Korg Digital Delay, he may have a DiMarzio Super Distortion pickup in the neck position.
The LP for me, probably because I've grown up with that version and didn't hear the demo until about 7 or 8 years ago. Get Mackie and John on here, Harley's a fucking tool.
Trust me, if I get the ok to post some of the chapters from Harely's upcoming book, you will not be disappointed. The stuff that he has sent me so far is mind blowing and full of very detailed "Age Of Quarrel" era stories.-Tim DCXX
And that's just one of the many reasons I love Jeff Banks.
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